The Scottish government has allocated almost £700,000 to charities providing information and advice to disabled people and their carers, as part of its self-directed support strategy.
So far 17 organisations helping people who have physical disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health issues, dementia and sensory impairments and their carers access services have been awarded and more will be announced later in the year.
Public health minister, Michael Matheson said: “This is vital in supporting people who receive social care services to have a real say in how the services they need to live independent lives should be delivered.”
The Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living has been awarded two grants, £57,697 to develop a case management system for users and £59,004 to develop a support and brokerage service for new groups.
Chief executive Etienne d’Aboville said: “It will help ensure that disabled people and their carers can make the most of the exciting new opportunities which self-directed support offers.”
A 10-year self-directed support strategy was drawn up last year by the Scotish government with the intention of making self-directed support the main route for funding support services. It includes direct payments and personal budgets for individuals to arrange their own support packages. The Scottish government plans to introduce a Self-Directed Support Bill later in 2012.
The full list of charities which have received funding through the initiative is below:
Alzheimer Scotland - £16,635
Ayrshire Independent Living Network - £27,934
Borders Independent Advocacy Service - £15,816
Borders Direct Payment Agency - £17,925
Cornerstone - £32,500
Direct Inclusive Collaborative Enterprise - £17,500
Dundee Carers Centre - £43,906
Equal Say Advocacy - £20,000
Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living (development of case management system for access by users) - £57,697
Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living (development of support and brokerage service for new groups) - £59, 004
Minority Ethnic Carers of Older People Project - £23,176
Outside the Box - £48,268
Princess Royal Trust for Carers - £30,112
Self Directed Support Scotland - £100,700
Scottish Personal Assistant Employers Network - £109,300
SDS Forum East Renfrewshire - £42,097
Stroke Association - £17,985
Tagsa Uibhist - £10,909
Charities join call for reform of social care
Meanwhile leading figures at UK charities have joined care providers, health bodies, employers, and unions in writing an open letter to the Prime Minister published in the Daily Telegraph urging politicians to work together to reform the “failing” social care system in England.
Signatories include people representing Carers UK, Age UK, the Alzheimer’s Society, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Mencap, MS Society and Scope and said that supporting the increasing number of people needing care, “is a challenge we are failing to meet – resulting in terrible abuse and neglect in parts of the care system”.
Cross-party talks about care for the elderly and disabled ground to a halt in 2010 but are due to start again later this month. Last summer the independent Dilnot Commission into Funding of Care Services and Support published its recommendations and the government has committed to publishing a white paper on social care by April.
